Yes, that guy firing strikes and blowing batters away in the seventh or eighth inning for the Cardinals is the same Octavio Dotel that struggled through the first four months of the season for the Blue Jays, little trusted and underutilized by rookie manager John Farrell.

Dotel apparently found his second wind when he was traded to the Cards along with Marc Rzepczynski, Corey Patterson and Edwin Jackson for a potpourri of once and future talent headed by centre fielder Colby Rasmus. Thankfully, the 37-year-old ended up with a manager, Tony La Russa, who taps into his bullpen in the do-or-die post-season more than anyone in history.

If you go off first impressions, Dotel’s stint as a Blue Jay would have to be considered a failure. Even he agrees. But the numbers weren’t that bad. Minus a defined role, he posted a 2-1 record in 36 games, with a 3.68 earned-run average, allowing 20 hits, 13 walks and two hit batters, while striking out 30.

But Dotel’s time as a Jay must be considered a success after you talk to 21-year-old Henderson Alvarez, who has a bright major-league future, making 10 late-season starts. Asked at the Futures Game in July, how important his first invitation to major-league spring training was in terms of his development, Alvarez spoke glowingly and with affection about how Dotel helped prepare him to be a major-league player.

“It makes me feel good because when guys understand and realize what I’m trying to do and what I try to show them and they appreciate it, it makes me feel good, because I feel like I do something,” Dotel said before Game 3 of the World Series when informed of the young Venezuelan’s feelings. It makes it worthwhile, really, because that’s what I’m here for. I’m just trying to help everyone I can help.

“If anyone comes to me and talks to me and asks me, I’ll be happy to do it and help any moment at any time, anyone.”

Dotel was the first bullpen free agent the Jays signed last winter, thus becoming the first option as closer. As spring training approached, the Jays ratcheted up the closing competition, signing Jon Rauch as a free agent and then trading for Frankie Francisco from the Rangers. This spring in Dunedin, the flavour of the clubhouse was increasingly Latin American, more than at any other time in recent memory.

Among the Caribbean-rim pitchers, the invited kids and 40-man roster included Alvarez, Luis Perez, Joel Carreno and Carlos Villanueva. Dotel recognized himself in the kids and mentored them.

“When I was young, I really don’t work hard enough,” Dotel admitted. “Now, I’m getting old, I feel a little bit bad because of that. If I would have done what I’m doing now, if I work all the way through, the way I understand now, it would have made me a better player. I only understand that later.

“I just want those young players because they’re starting to know and understand how tough and how good it is for you to prepare yourself to be a good major-league player. Most of the time they just left the ballpark, do whatever they got to do and ‘see you later,’ go home.”

Alvarez, Perez and Carreno all reached the majors before the season was over. Even though Dotel does not throw as hard as he did when he was younger, he feels he is a much better pitcher and better person than when he was establishing himself as a hotshot prospect.

“Way better,” Dotel quickly agreed. “I understand the game better. I know what it takes. I know what I got to take with all those things. Now I know it. It comes with experience. ...

“As soon as you’re quick in learning, the better it’s going to be in the end. That’s what I want, all those young guys come through to this game, to this level, I just want to show them how good it is to not lose any time in any situation when you’re young.”

Dotel is with his 12th big-league team since ‘99. He reached the post-season with the ‘99 Mets, the ‘01 Astros and the ‘08 White Sox. But this is his first kick at the World Series can. The native of the Dominican Republic was glad to hear he was appreciated by someone with the Jays.

“It makes me feel good because that way I can probably show or tell one of them coaches that they probably think wrong about me,” Dotel said. “That I did something for their organization.”

Dotel’s personal reward is he’s as close as he’s ever been to earning a World Series ring.

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